Laurent Paturaud

Laurent Paturaud was born in 1969 in Chartres. Passionate about drawing from a very young age, he discovered comic art as a teenager through series that have left their mark on several generations, such as Thorgal, La Quête de l'oiseau du temps (The Quest for the Time-Bird), Les Passagers du Vent (The Passengers of the Wind), and others. It was only after training as a graphic designer in advertising that he decided to make a living from his passion for the Ninth Art: he then created numerous illustrations for local organizations and magazines, and went on to lead comic art workshops. In 2000, his direct-color artworks were noticed during the BDécouvertes contest organized by Éditions Glénat. In 2001, his meeting with Thomas Mosdi proved decisive, as it led to the creation of his first series: Les Passants du Clair de Lune (The Passersby of the Moonlight). A lover of history and painting, his appreciation for the major artistic movements of the 19th century—particularly the Romantic period—led to an opportunity to collaborate with art historian Benoit Noël, Ph.D., on a book commemorating the 150th anniversary of the first edition of Charles Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil). In addition, he continues to create illustrations, such as bookplates and posters, and regularly leads comic art workshops. In 2007, he teamed up again with Thomas Mosdi to launch a new esoteric series published by Éditions Soleil: Succubes. In 2013, in collaboration with Esther Gil (script), he created Victor Hugo, aux frontières du reel (Victor Hugo: On the Fringes of Reality), published by Daniel Maghen; the duo then reunited in 2019 to adapt the incredible life of Mata Hari with skill and precision. He will soon publish a new book with Daniel Maghen: Amériques (Americas).